EML’s Procedural Poetry Project, an experimental VR poetry-making experience that incorporates AI, was first conceived by Principal Investigators Jennifer Moss and Austen Osworth from the UBC Department of Creative Writing. The project is further enriched by faculty members of the department, such as poetry specialist Bronwen Tate, an Associate Professor of Teaching and the Undergraduate Chair, as well as by Professor Annabel Lyon, the Director of the School of Creative Writing. The project was directly inspired by the abstract, experimental poetry of Vancouver artists in the 1960s, specifically that of poet Judith Copithorne (1939-2025).
A UBC alumna herself, Copithorne’s concrete poetry combined lush visuals with words, resulting in unique pieces of art. Copithorne’s family has expressed interest in the project. Her niece, Adrienne Copithorne, notes that the VR Poetry Funhouse feels in keeping with the experimental spirit with which Judith approached her poetry.
As Copithorne’s work and visual aesthetic are so central to the project, the Poetry Funhouse team wanted to get a chance to see her work up close. Their visit to the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery allowed them to view Copithorne’s collection of acquired works, which Copithorne donated to the Belkin in 2021.
Belkin Archivist Anna Tidlund cited great interest in Belkin’s wider concrete poetry collection and noted that with greater awareness of the Copithorne collection’s presence in the archives, more access requests are likely to come with time.
Designers Amy Yiqin Li, Jaq Ai, and Shivangi Singh all visited the Belkin, taking in Copithorne’s original works. With assistance from the Belkin team it was a very special investigation into source material.
“After working with Judith Copithorne’s art throughout the whole summer, it was really exciting to explore and understand the aura of her original pieces during our visit to the Belkin Art Gallery. The visit gave us a clearer understanding of the overall flow of her work. It will help us better incorporate Judith’s ideas and practice into the Poetry project.”
Amy Li, Project Designer and UBC student of Visual Arts
“Seeing Judith Copithorne’s original ink drawings in person was essential for me as a designer on the Poetry Funhouse project. Observing her delicate lines, organic movement, and intentional use of space firsthand revealed nuances that digital reproductions can’t capture. Her work directly guides the project’s visual language, spatial experience design, interaction style, and emotional tone. Being physically present with her art gave me a clearer understanding of her thought process and inspired design choices that will make the experience more immersive – shaping the foundation of the project at every level.”
Shivangi Singh, Project designer and MFA, Design, Film, Theatre and Performing Arts
The team was impacted by the insights into Copithorne’s life that emerged through the encounter with her materials directly.
“Getting to see Judith Copithorne’s personal sketchbook was definitely a highlight of the trip. Being able to see her daily drawings and the notes she made in the margins gave us glimpses into her lifestyle that usually tend to be generalized.”
Jaq Ai, Team Lead for project, designer, and Computer Science student with minor in Creative Writing.
EML’s visit to the Belkin gallery offered a very special encounter with Copithorne’s work, imbuing the project with more personality and an informed visual design. To learn more about the Procedural Poetry Funhouse or other EML projects, visit the EML website. Learn more about the Helen and Morris Belkin Gallery’s collections and archives here.
Learn more about Judith Copithorne here. For further details regarding Copithorne’s work, check out her publications like:
Another Order: Selected Works
by Judith Copithorne (edited by Eric Schmaltz)
Vancouver: Talonbooks, 2023
